List of Italian Army equipment in World War II explained

The following is a list of equipment used by the Royal Italian Army (Regio Esercito), Italian Air Force (Regia Aeronautica), and Royal Italian Navy (Regia Marina) during World War II.

Bayonets

Model Type From:
M91/38 folding bayonet Bayonet 1893
M91/38 standard bayonet Bayonet 1891

Small arms

Handguns

Image Type Maker Rounds Cartridge From: Weight Number built Comment
7 (+1) 1935 23.28 oz (660 g) 1,080,000 Remained in service until 1991.
8 (+1) 1937 23.5 oz (666 g) 525,000 Was a prized souvenir during the war. Remained in service until 1967.
Società Siderurgica Glisenti 7 (+1) 1910 29,00 oz (820 g) 100,000 Was originally chambered for a 7.65×22mm bottle-neck cartridge, but the Italian Army requested it to be chambered in 9mm.
Many manufacturers 6 10.35mm Ordinanza Italiana 1889 33.05 oz (950 g) ? Italian manufacturers include: Societa Siderurgica Glisenti, Castelli of Brescia, Metallurgica Bresciana, Vincenzo Bernardelli of Gardone Val Trompia. During World War I, Spanish manufacturers, Errasti and Arrostegui of Eibar produced the Bodeo for the Italian government.
-M1942 Sosso Pistol FNA Brescia 21 1942 ? ? Experimental design, was never fully adopted. Only five were manufactured, with four of them going to high-ranking Italian officials such as Vittorio Emanuele III and Benito Mussolini.[1]

Rifles

Type Base model Maker Rounds Cartridge From: Produced Weight Comment
6 1891 2,063,750 3.4 kg standard service rifle
Carcano M1891 Moschetto da Cavalleria (Cavalry Carbine) 6 1893 ? 3.4 kg integral, folding bayonet
Carcano M1891TS Moschetto per Truppe Speciali (Special Troop Carbine) 6 1897 ? 3.4 kg without bayonet
Carcano M1891/24 6 1924 ? ? kg
Carcano M1891/28 6 1928 ? ? kg
Carcano M1938 carbine Carcano M1938 carbine 6 1938 ? 3.6741 kg converted to higher caliber cartridge
Carcano 91/38 (Modello 91/38) short rifleCarcano M1938 carbine 6 1940 ? ? kg reverted to original cartridge
Steyr-Mannlicher M18955 ? ? 3.8 kg imported from Austria-Hungary
M1870/87/15 Vetterli-Vitali6 ? ? 4.2 kg issued to colonial troops in Italian East Africa
Fucile Armaguerra Mod. 396 1944 500 3.7 kg

Submachine guns

Type Maker Rounds Cartridge From: Rate of fire Weight Comment
25 1930s 900 rpm 7 lb 3 oz (3.3 kg) Semi-automatic carbine developed for police use. Issued in limited numbers to Guardia alla Frontiera and Milizia Forestale units.
40 1938 600 rpm 9 lb 4 oz (4.2 kg) Different box magazines had a capacity 10, 20 and 40 cartridges.
FNAB 40 1944 600-837 rpm [2] 8 lb 12 oz (3.9 kg) Magazines of 20 cartridges were also available. Was expensive to produce and so, only 7,000 were ever made.
Officine Villar Perosa 25 1918 900 rpm 8 lb 0 oz (3,6 kg) Was issued during the early 1920s; was mostly replaced by other models by the end of the war.
Fabbrica Fratelli Giandoso 40 1944 800 rpm 7 lb 0 oz (3.2 kg) Produced in small numbers (6,000 made between 1944 and 1945), design was later sold to the Burmese Army and produced as the BA-52.

Grenades

TypeMakerFromWeightComment
SRCM Mod.35Società Romana Costruzioni Meccaniche1935240 gimpact fuse hand grenade
OTO Mod.35Odero Terni Orlando1935150 gimpact fuse hand grenade
OTO Mod.42Odero Terni Orlando19421100 gIncendiary grenade
Breda Mod.35Breda Meccaniche Bresciane1935200 gimpact fuse hand grenade
Breda Mod.42Breda Meccaniche Bresciane19421050 gAnti-tank grenade
L TypeOdero Terni Orlando19402040 gAnti-tank grenade
P BombImprovised Device19412000g or 1000gAnti-tank grenade

Flamethrowers

Machine guns

Artillery

Infantry mortars

Model Caliber Max. range From Produced Weight, kg fire rate, RPM Comment
45mm 530 1935 ? 15.5 18 extremely accurate, 18 mortars per battalion (in 2 platoons)
81mm 1500 1935 ? 59.56 18 6 mortars per regiment, extended range (4 km) shell available

Field artillery

Italian artillery was usually designated using the calibre and length of the barrel in number of calibre lengths, so "90/53" would mean a weapon with a 90 mm diameter barrel where the length of the barrel was approximately 53 calibre lengths (i.e. 53x90 mm, that is 4.77 m).

Model Caliber Max.
range
From Number
produced
Weight
(kg)
fire rate
RPM
Comment
47mm 7000abbr=onNaNabbr=on1935 ? 315 5 dual-role anti-tank/infantry gun, adopted for many vehicles, licensed version of Böhler gun
65mm 6800 1907 ? 650 5 mountain gun
65mm 6800 1913 ? 650 5 mountain gun
Škoda 7 cm K1066mm50001912 ?52010naval gun redeployed as coastal artillery
Skoda 75 mm Model 15
(Obice da 75/13)
75mm 8250 1918 ? 613 7 Austrian-built
75mm 10000 1906 ? 1080 5 licensed version of Krupp 1906M gun
75mm 10240 1912 ? 1076 5 French-designed
Cannone da 75/27 modello 1275mm 10000 1912 ? 900 5 modification of Cannone da 75/27 modello 06
75mm 9564 1934 ? 1832 5 mountain gun
75mm 9564 1935 ? 1832 5 field gun version of the Obice da 75/18 modello 34 with different carriage
75mm 12500 1937 1 1250 5 prototype of 75/32 field gun, unmodified went on as tank gun
75mm 12500 1937 ? 1250 5 dual-role anti-tank/field gun
76.5mm 6100 1907 ? 1065 9 built in Austria-Hungary, bronze barrel
100mm 8180 1914 ? 14176 Austrian-built, in NATO service until 1984
Obice da 100/17 modello 16[3] 100mm 8180 1916 ? 1235 6 weight reduction of Obice da 100/17 modello 14 for use as mountain gun
Škoda 10 cm K10100mm152001910?202010dual-purpose gun
Cannon 102/45102mm93001917?23277naval gun converted to anti-aircraft gun
105mm 8000 (12000) 1917 854 2650 5 license-built, kept in reserve until 1939
105mm 6000 (8100) 1917 120 1400 5 used in self-propelled gun
120mm 7700 1880 540505 fortress Krupp gun, used by Italian border guards
Obice da 149/12149.1mm88001914150023443Licensed copy of the 15 cm sFH 13
Cannone da 149/23149.1mm 9300 1882 ? 6050 1 fortress howitzer, most likely did not see combat in World War II
149.1mm 6500 1915 ? 2700 1.5 Austrian-built Skoda howitzer
149.1mm 8800 1915 490 2765 1.5 Obice da 149/12 modello 14 modified for new ammunition
149.1mm 16500 1900 895 8220 1 No recoil absorber, zero traverse
Cannone da 149/40 modello 35149.1 mm (5.87 in)23700abbr=onNaNabbr=on194063+?113401-2Replacement for Cannone da 149/35A but insufficient numbers built. Split trail
149.1mm 14250 1939 230 5780 3 Italian replacement for all older howitzers
149.1mm 15000 1912 12 ? 6 removed from Austrian battleship Tegetthoff and used in coastal defense
152.4mm 19400 1910 53 16672 1 Naval gun used in counter-battery fire and siege
152.4mm 16000 1916 44 11900 1 built in Austria-Hungary
190mm 20000 1904 29 12700 3 built in Austria-Hungary as naval gun, reused by Italians in coastal defense
Canon de 19 modèle 1870/93 TAZ194mm18300191512650002A French railroad gun in Italian service.
191mm 22000 1908 24 13770 2.6 naval gun reused in coastal defense
203/45 Mod. 1897203.2mm 18000 1897 40 11900 2.4 built for Giuseppe Garibaldi-class cruisers, used in World War II as siege gun and coastal defense
203.2mm 30620 1924 26 11900 2.4 built for Trento-class cruisers, 1 turret used in coastal defence
210mm 15400 1935 20 24000 1 Production continued by Germans after surrender of Italy
210mm 8450 1900 ? 10930 0.4 In Italian fortresses only
210mm 8450 1900 ? 10930 0.4 Towed version of Mortaio da 210/8 D.S.
210mm 8450 1900 ? 10930 0.4 Improved mobility version of Mortario da 210/8 PIAT
260mm 91001916?125601 round
every 12 minutes
Italian version of a Schneider design.
Obice da 280280mm 11600 1890 ? 34070 ?Coastal defense and siege howitzer
305mm 9600 1911 79 20839 0.18 Austro-Hungarian siege howitzer, received by Italy
305 mm /46 Model 1909305mm240001909625002naval gun used as coastal artillery
305mm 19000 1909 6 199900 1 naval gun used as coastal artillery
305mm 20000 1911 65 620000 3 triple-mount Austrian naval gun used as coastal artillery
Cannone navale da 381/40
(coastal)
381mm 27300 1912 10 95000 1.75 naval gun used as coastal artillery
Cannone navale da 381/40
(railroad)
381mm 30000 1912 7 212000 1.75 naval gun used as railroad gun

See also:

Anti-tank guns

Before and during World War II, Italy designed most of their anti-aircraft guns and some its infantry guns to also serve in the anti-tank role. No dedicated anti-tank gun was produced. Listed below is just the guns used in anti-tank role most commonly.

Model Caliber Penetration
100m (110yd)
Penetration
500m
Muzzle
velocity
Max. range From Produced Weight
kg
fire rate
RPM
Comment
37mm ??700m/s6000m (20,000feet)1934 ? 277 120 dual-role anti-tank/anti-aircraft gun
Cannone controcarro da 37/4537mm64mm31mm735m/s5484m (17,992feet)??32713Italian variant of the Rheinmetall Pak 36
47mm 58mm43mm630m/s7000m (23,000feet)1935 ? 315 5 dual-role anti-tank/infantry gun, licensed version of Böhler gun
Cannone da 90/53 mod. 193990mm190mm850m/s17400m (57,100feet)1939539895019dual-role anti-tank/anti-aircraft gun

Infantry anti-tank weapons

Anti-aircraft weapons

Model Caliber Effective
altitude
From Number
produced
Weight, kg fire rate
RPM
Comment
13.2 mm 1000 1929 ? 47.5 400 used on command vehicles, licensed copy of the 13.2 mm Hotchkiss machine gun
20 mm 2000 1940 500 227.5 250 designed as aircraft cannon, build by Swiss Oerlikon
20 mm 2000 1935 ? 330 240 twin mount, main Italian light AA/AT gun
Breda 37/54 mod. 32 37 mm 3500 1934 ? 5000 120 naval gun with stabilizer
Breda 37/54 mod. 38 37 mm 3500 1938 ? 4300 120 twin-barreled land version, without stabilizer
Breda 37/54 mod. 39 37 mm 3500 1939 ? 1500 120 land version with recoil absorber
Breda 37/54 mod. 40 37 mm 3500 1940 ? 312.5 120 re-navalized version with recoil absorber
QF 2-pounder naval gun (40/39 Vickers-Terni mod. 1915) 40 mm 3960 1917 50+ 711 67 import and licensed production of "pom-pom" gun
Ansaldo [4] Cannone da 65/64 modello 39 65 mm 5000 1939 115 ? 20
75 mm 8500 1935 318 4405 15 used on Semovente 75/46 as anti-tank gun
75 mm 9200 1939 ? 4150 15 Captured from Czech army in 1939
76.2 mm 5500 1916 492 1676 14 used in fixed AA positions from 1933
76.2 mm 6000 1911 312 2204 25 licensed version of "76 mm Mle 1911 Schneider"
Cannone da 90/53 mod. 193990 mm 11300 1939 539 8950 19 used on Semovente 90/53 as anti-tank gun
Cannone da 90/50[5] mod. 193990 mm 10800 1939 56 18750 12 navalized Cannone da 90/53 version
102/35 mod. 1914101.6 mm 5700 1914 110 1220 7 used by the navy and on armored trains, and on SPG
120/27 OTO 1924[6] 120 mm 5500 1924 5 ? 9 removed from submarines, re-used in Messina AA battery

All calibers of AA guns were also mounted in portee trucks in dual roles (ground attack and AA).

Vehicles

The Italian designation system for tanks consisted of a letter (L, M or P; designating light, medium and heavy tanks respectively) followed by two numbers: one giving the approximate weight in tons, the other giving the year it was accepted for service. Thus "M11/39" means the 11 ton medium tank of 1939. The Italian definitions of light, medium and heavy tank differ from other nations at the time. For instance the Italian "medium" tanks are often described as "light" in other sources.

Tankettes

Model From Armor max., mm Primary armament Secondary armament Weight, t Power, kW Range, km Produced Crew Comments
1929 9 2 × 8 mm machine guns none 1.5 17 160 4 2 imported from the UK
L2/29 (CV-29) 1929 9 2 × 8 mm machine guns none 1.5 17 160 21 2 minimal modifications of Carden Loyd Mark VI tankette
L3/33 (CV-33) 1933 14 none 2.7 32 110 300 2 all previous tankettes were upgraded in 1934 to CV-33 II Mod. 1934
L3/33 (CV-33 II Mod. 1934) 1934 14 2 × Fiat–Revelli Modello 1935 8 mm MG none 2.7 32 110 ? 2 mass production version
1933 14 Flamethrower Fiat–Revelli Modello 1935 8 mm MG 3.3 32 110 ? 2 flame tank with towed fuel tank
L3/35 (CV-35) 1935 14 2 × Breda 38 8 mm MG none 3.2 32 125 2500 2 armor bolted instead of riveted
1935 14 2 × Breda 38 8 mm MG none 3.2 32 125 ? 2 doors and louvers modified for desert operation
1935 14 Madsen machine gun (13.2 mm) none 3.2 32 125 24 2 export variant, torsion bar suspension
The L3 tankette was also a basis for several engineering vehicles.

Tanks

Model From Armor max., mm Primary armament Secondary armament Weight, t Power, kW Range, km Produced Crew Comments
Panzer III Ausf N 1943 70 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 23 220 155 12 5 12 imported from Germany, can fire HEAT rounds
Panzer IV Ausf G 1943 88 7.5 cm KwK 40 L/48 25 220 200 12 5 12 imported from Germany
1941 60 26.5 370 400 3 4 captured from USSR, used on Eastern front only
1921 16 2x6.5 mm machine guns 3000A 6.5 mm machine gun 6 38.2 100 100 2 based on Renault FT, 1st Italian tank
1930 16 37/40 gun 6.5 mm machine gun 6 38.2 100 52 2 weapon upgrade of L5/21
1940 40 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun 6.8 52 200 283 2 designed for alpine combat, base for Semovente 47/32 SPG, flame tank version Fiat L6-40 LF
1940 43 10.6 62 130 124 2 French tank received via Germany
1941 47 47 mm SA 35 gun 19.5 140 230 32 3 French tank received via Germany, used in Italy for training only
1939 30 37 mm Vickers-Terni L/40 2 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun 11.2 79 200 100 3 main cannon mounted in front hull below turret
1940 42 4 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun 13.5 93 200 c.2000 4 main cannon placed in turret, 1 AA machine gun
1941 42 2 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun 14 110 200 800 4 engine improvement of M13/40, machine guns ball turret removed
1943 50 47 mm Cannone da 47/40 L40 4 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun 15.5 145 200 118 4 general improvement of M14/41, base for Semovente 75/34 gun
Fiat M16/43 ("Sahariano") 1943 50 47 mm Cannone da 47/40 L40 2 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun 16 208 300 1 4 Christie suspension used for first time in Italy
1943 50 2 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun 26 310 280 103 4 base for Semovente 149/40 SPG, used by German army only

Self-propelled guns

Tank-based

Name Chassis Gun Developed Number
manufactured
Role
1941 300 self-propelled AT gun
1941 262 self-propelled gun
1942 190 self-propelled AT gun
Cannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 341942 15 self-propelled gun
Cannone da 90/531942 30 self-propelled AT gun
105mm howitzer 1943 90 self-propelled gun
Cannone da 149/40 modello 351942 1 self-propelled gun, prototype only
StuG III Ausf G 7.5 cm KwK 401940 0 self-propelled AT gun, 12 received from Germany

Others

During World War II, Italy regularly mounted cannons on portee trucks. Also, permanent installation of guns on trucks and armored cars were done on ad-hoc basis, therefore many self-propelled guns had no official name besides descriptive type of truck plus type of cannon. Below is the grossly incomplete list of these self-propelled weapons.

Armoured cars

Model Maker Developed Produced Armament comments
1933 46 3 × Breda Mod. 5C 6.5 mm machine gun had mobility and maintenance problems
1933 ? 2 × Breda Mod. 5C 6.5 mm machine gun and 1 x cannone Vickers-Terni da 37/40 Mod.30considered unsuccessful because was unable to fire forward with machine gun
Lancia IZM (Lancia IZ) 1915 120 all machine guns are detachable
1936 - some vehicles captured from British forces from 1940. equipped with radio, good mobility,
1942 263 Breda 38 8 mm machine gun copy of British Daimler Dingo
Autoblindo 40 (AB 40) 1940 24 2 × Breda 38 8 mm machine gun developed from, most AB 40 upgraded to AB 41
Autoblindo 41 (AB 41) 1941 600 Breda Model 35 20mm gun firepower improvement of Autoblindo 40 (AB 40)
Autoblindo 43 (AB 43) 1943 1 more powerful engine and armor added
SPA-Viberti AS.42 "Sahariano" 1942 ? 47mm 47/32 Mod. 1935 gunscout car based on AB 41

Engineering and command

Trucks

Light trucks

Medium trucks

Heavy trucks

Passenger cars

Motorcycles

Tractors and prime movers

Miscellaneous vehicles

Aircraft

See main article: List of Regia Aeronautica aircraft used in World War II.

Radars

Italy was late on the radar development;At the date of the armistice in 1943, 84 of 85 radars in operation were German-built.Italian Army and Navy have deployed a network of radar detectors and jammers though.

See also: Armi avanzate della Seconda Guerra Mondiale/Appendix 4 (wikibook)

Cartridges and shells

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sosso 1941 Italian Prototype Pistol . . 2017-03-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170406071902/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO3ZAuiq35k . 2017-04-06 . live .
  2. Web site: The Italian FNAB-43 submachine gun – LAI Publications . 2024-06-08 . en-US.
  3. Web site: Vecio.it - la storia degli Alpini nel web - Obice Skoda 100/17 mod.14 e 16 . www.vecio.it . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140225212537/http://www.vecio.it/cms/index.php/artiglieria/342-obice-skoda-10017-mod14-e-16 . 25 February 2014 . dead.
  4. Web site: Armi avanzate della Seconda Guerra Mondiale/Appendice 6 - Wikibooks, manuali e libri di testo liberi. it.wikibooks.org.
  5. Web site: Tony DiGiulian . Italy 90 mm/50 (3.5") Ansaldo Model 1938, OTO Model 1939 . NavWeaps . 2022-08-20.
  6. Web site: Tony DiGiulian . Italy Miscellaneous 120 mm (4.7") Guns . NavWeaps . 2022-08-20.